Messenger of Truth

Jacqueline Winspear
Henry Holt & Company (2006)
ISBN 0805078983
Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (7/06)

Set in London in 1931, “Messenger of Truth” is the third in a series of mysteries starring private-eye-for-hire Maisie Dobbs.  This time she delves into the world of art as she investigates the death of artist Nick Bassington-Hope.  The police say he fell from his scaffolding in an accident, but his sister Georgina suspects foul play.  When she gets no satisfaction from the police, who have closed the case, she hires Maisie to uncover the truth. 

As Maisie travels across England, interviewing Nick’s family and friends, she begins to get a picture of the artist and his last days.  Along the way, she has a run-in with the Customs and Excise people as she uncovers a smuggling ring, discovers a side to Nick that none of his family knew existed, helps a friend find her way out of a pit of despair, sheds an erstwhile suitor and gropes for words to comfort her helper Billy Beale as his family endures unimaginable tragedy.

The fun part of this book for me was the background, as we see people going about their daily lives with few of the modern conveniences we have today.  Imagine having to run down three or four blocks to summon help or getting ink on your hands from your pen as you write out your thoughts because there is no computer or tape recorder available, although Maisie’s index cards did bring to mind Marcia Muller’s famous P.I., Sharon McCone. 

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